I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Morning Star, from Thomas Heflin and it's a smooth, pop jazz effort led by trumpet player Thomas Heflin. Opening with title track, Morning Star, the Slavic translation of Heflin's wife's name. Heflin on trumpet, is backed by Gregory Tardy on sax, Dan Hitchcock on tenor sax, Peter Stoltzman on keys, Aaron Matson on guitar, Steve Haines on bass, Xavier Ware on drums and Jorge Luis Torres on percussion. With a step up solo by Heflin and a fluid sax solo by Tardy, this is a solid opener. Interlude is one of my favorite tracks on the release with it's jagged rhythm pattern and adventurous trumpet lead by Heflin. Haiku has a really cool intro ... just Heflin on trumpet derived from a jazz favorite, Stablemates by Benny Golson. As the track progresses, Tardy lays in some really adventurous sax lines, nice trumpet improvisation by Heflin and a strong bass lead by Haines. The Moon Singer is inspired by a book by Clyde Robert Bulla and is an adventurous instrumental with some nice guitar work by Aaron Matson and with strong backing vocal work by Ariel Pocock. Anna Breschine, named after Heflin's daughter is a quiet ballad with lead trumpet and Stoltzman on keys laying the groundwork for Tardy on sax and a melodic solo by Heflin. Very nice. A Radio Outro wraps the release with a hip hop beat and Heflin and tardy trading riffs with Stoltzman. Solid closer.
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